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Compare towns

Palermo vs Jackson

85 miles apart. The biggest differences: street grid (5.9× in Jackson) and jobs per worker (5× in Jackson).

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Palermo, CAHomes around $243KCalifornia · 5,266 people
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Jackson, CAOne of the healthiest townsCalifornia · 5,048 people
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,090 more a month in Jackson

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Palermo$1,410/mo
Typical home $243K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.65% · or rent about $1,135/mo · Housing →
Jackson$2,500/mo
Typical home $435K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.59% · or rent about $1,429/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,090 a month, about $13,100 a year, between Jackson and Palermo.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Jackson places higher on 13 of 18 CA lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every California ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
PalermoJackson
Snow a year—0″
January low—40°F
July high—95°F
Growing season (days)—332d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)86th81st
Outdoors & history
PalermoJackson
Trails1 mi0 mi
Conserved land1.9%0.7%
Settled—1848
National Register places19
Archive photos512
Famous people born here1—
Community
PalermoJackson
Library hours a week—40 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

85 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Palermo ↔ Jackson85 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

PalermoJackson
People
Population 5,266Highest 5,048Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +3.2%Lowest CA: +6.1% +7.9%Highest CA: +6.1%
Median age 47±6.9Lowest 24% above CA 50.2±6.1Highest 32% above CA
Jackson and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 20%±3.7Highest CA: 22% 16.9%±4.4Lowest CA: 22%
Palermo and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 23.1%±2.9Lowest CA: 15.7% 38%±7.1Highest CA: 15.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 12.2%Lowest CA: 37.1% 23.6%Highest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.2%±1.9Lowest CA: 7.6% 3.6%±2.1Highest CA: 7.6%
Jackson and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $50,588±$13kLowest 49% below CA $70,239±$18kHighest 29% below CA
Jackson and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $283,000±$47kLowest 61% below CA $442,700±$49kHighest 40% below CA
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,135±$122Lowest 44% below CA $1,429±$151Highest 30% below CA
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,853Lowest 64% below CA $2,632Highest 49% below CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 61.7%±14.1Highest CA: 55.3% 58.7%±20.3Lowest CA: 55.3%
Palermo and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 20.1%Highest CA: 12% 10.9%Lowest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 68.7%Highest CA: 55.9% 60.5%Lowest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than CA 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 29 minHighest about the CA average 20 minLowest 30% below CA
Work from home 9.9%±5.7Highest CA: 17.2% 2.6%±2.1Lowest CA: 17.2%
Palermo and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 4.2%Lowest 11.3%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 21.8 miLowest 39.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.22Lowest 1.11Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Oroville (26%)Sacramento (5%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in JacksonFew work in Palermo
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1.9%Highest 0.7%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 1.0 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Lowest 3Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 8.8Lowest 52.1Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading —#270 of 574 in CA
School district Palermo Union ElementaryAmador County ROP · Amador County Unified
High school in town None in townArgonaut High
Students per teacherat that high school — 19.1
California average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Palermo neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Palermo’s Town Square.

Jackson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Jackson’s Town Square.

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Bordering Palermo

Towns like Palermo

Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks California towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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